OK so, I had an installation issue last night, which I used the Aerosoft forums, made a post about my issue, and went to bed. I received an email last night from their customer support team. Apparently my issue is a common one and after following the instructions, I was able to install the plane with no problems at all. Great customer support.
On a scale of 1 - 10 for payware from a
non-pilot perspective -(I can never be a pilot due to a childhood accident, but I can fly in planes
), I would give the Beaver a 6. I will explain why a 6 here.
10 is hard for me to give, and has to be an exacting aircraft (notable 10s are Captainsim 727, FSD Pilatus Porter, Aeroworx Super King Air B200, Bill and Lynn Lyons Grumman Goose)
Why a 6? And don't get me wrong. A 6 is not a bad number. I think anything above a 5 personally, makes for a tempting purchase. 8 and above in my own views is a definte must have. 5 to 7, are a toss up. If you are looking for a particular aircraft, that may not be....perfect, and you are not overly keen on the freeware versions if there are any (not knocking
anyone that takes the time to give of themselves to enhance the simmers. Anyone that gives freely to us all deserves a kudos!), then a 5 to a 7 is something to consider!
Well, visually the plane is quite good. Reflective textures on the metal and the glass. Has the opening passenger doors, cockpit doors, tie downs, and tire blocks. Also has the removable engine cover, the latter I like for those of us who immerse ourselves into our virtual world and will sit idle for a couple of hours with the flight sim running, and the plane getting some kind of 'maintenance'. There are 40 liveries included which will keep you busy, and also in your purchase, are the wheeled, tundra, ski, and float versions.
The over all detail is not super crisp, and not drop dead gorgeous, but visually its not too shabby on the outside. The 2D cockpit is nice and detailed, and comes with a silverish or a brownish 2D cockpit. The VC is where I find the main faults. Its not great, though it is functional. Graphically I would give it a 3 out of 10. Fuzzy, flat textures, monochromatic. I think they could have done better in this area. Guages are easy to read, and various parts of the interior are photo realistic, wheras other areas inside are just plain-jane. If I were to describe it, it looks like the photoreal parts are glued onto a a class called Photoshop 101.
Now, where the plane excels is the sound file. I have never heard an actual Beaver, but if I were to imagine one, I would think this is how it sounds. Gutteral, with the 'little engine that could' gusto. And having never heard or seen a real Beaver, I give the sound file a 9 out of 10.
Flight dynamics are very good compared to other Beavers I have installed (freeware varieties), and it flies as I would expect.
Overall, at just over $22 US at the conversion, its a payware I would say is a 50/50. If you want a DH2 Beaver, to tool around in on those days where you need a go anywhere plane, then I would say purchase it. If you are not into GA aircraft, and are expecting a plane that is a masterpiece, then you might want to pass, and purchase one of the others I have listed as being a '10' and just use a freeware download of one of the several Beavers available.
I will be posting some screenshots of the Beaver in the Payware Screenshots soon.
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